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A probiotics-containing biscuit modulates the intestinal microbiota in the elderly

  • Published:
The journal of nutrition, health & aging

Abstract

Objectives

Evaluation of the impact of a biscuit containing the probiotics Bifidobacterium longum Bar33 and Lactobacillus helveticus Barl3 on the intestinal microbiota in the elderly.

Design

Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial.

Participants

Thirty-two elderly volunteers living in Italy. The group was composed of 19 women and 13 men aged between 71 and 88 years (mean 76).

Intervention

Subjects were randomized in two groups consuming one dose of the probiotics-containing biscuit or placebo once a day for 30 days.

Measurements

For each subject the intestinal microbiota was characterized using the phylogenetic microarray platform HTF-Microbi. Array before and after intervention.

Results

Our data demonstrated that one-month consumption of a probiotics-containing biscuit was effective in redressing some of the age-related dysbioses of the intestinal microbiota. In particular, the probiotic treatment reverted the age-related increase of the opportunistic pathogens Clostridium cluster XI, Clostridium difficile, Clostridium perfringens, Enterococcus faecium and the enteropathogenic genus Campylobacter.

Conclusion

The present study opens the way to the development of elderly-tailored probiotic-based functional foods to counteract the age-related dysbioses of the intestinal microbiota.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy

    S. Rampelli, M. Candela, E. Biagi, S. Turroni & P. Brigidi

  2. Institute of Biomedical Technologies — Italian National Research Council, Milan, Italy

    M. Severgnini

  3. Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca per gli Alimenti e la Nutrizione, Roma, Italy

    M. Roselli

  4. R&D Food Microbiology & Bioprocess Research, Barilla G&R f.lli SpA, Parma, Italy

    P. Carnevali

  5. Medical Physiopathology, Food Science and Endocrinology Section, Food Science and Human Nutrition Research Unit, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy

    L. Donini

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  1. S. Rampelli
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Rampelli, S., Candela, M., Severgnini, M. et al. A probiotics-containing biscuit modulates the intestinal microbiota in the elderly. J Nutr Health Aging 17, 166–172 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-012-0372-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-012-0372-x

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